Storage facility for a motor vehicle and segmentation device

ABSTRACT

In a freight compartment for a motor vehicle, with a cargo net for holding transported goods on a freight compartment floor, at least one sectioning device is provided for dividing the freight compartment into at least two spaces. Such construction can be used in passenger cars of the sedan type.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a freight compartment for a motor vehicle aswell as a sectioning device therefor.

It is known to provide attaching eyes on a freight floor of a freightcompartment of a motor vehicle, by means of which lashing devices can befixed in position on the vehicle, and which hold packages on the freightcompartment floor.

It is the problem of the invention to create a freight compartment aswell as a sectioning device of the kind referred to above which willpermit improved utilization of the freight compartment.

This problem is solved for the freight compartment in that at least onesectioning device is provided for dividing the freight compartment intoat least two spaces. The sectioning device can be in the form of asimple divider or of a complex device by providing at least one flexibleor at least partially stiff divider in a corresponding enclosure.Preferably, at least one divider of the at least one sectioning deviceserves for the vertical separation of the freight compartment into atleast two sections of space adjoining one another in the direction ofthe vehicle's length and/or transversely thereof.

In an embodiment of the invention the sectioning device has at least onedivider that is flexible or at least of stable shape in sections, whichcan be shifted between a rest position and an active position, and whichin its active position divides the freight compartment into at least twosections of space, the at least one divider being sunken in its restposition in at least one recess in a boundary surface of the freightcompartment, especially in a freight compartment floor. The divider isthus housed in its rest position in the freight compartment so compactlyand invisibly that the entire volume of the freight compartment isavailable for loading and unloading. The configuration is especiallyadvantageous for a trunk compartment situated in a rear deck of apassenger car. The divider can be mounted or housed either in its ownhousing or directly in the recess. In addition to the freightcompartment floor, the sides of the freight compartment, including thefront and rear sides as well as the roof of the freight compartment,which in a passenger car is situated directly under a back shelf of thevehicle's interior, also serve as defining surfaces.

In a further embodiment of the invention the at least one recess in theboundary surface can be closed by at least one cover. This cover can bematched in its dimensions to the dimensions of the opening of therecess. However, it can also be a section of a larger surface coveringwhich forms a lining of the corresponding boundary surface. For thispurpose a floor carpet or a wide wall liner can be provided.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a side wall of the freightcompartment is provided as a boundary surface, and a flap turning on ahinge which can be locked in the closed covering position by a lockingdevice is provided to serve as a roof. Simple releasable catches, bolts,hook-and-loop closures, pushbuttons or other releasable devices can beprovided as locking devices.

According to the invention the sectioning device is provided with atleast one flexible dividing wall or one that is at least stable in shapein sections, which can be aligned and affixed to the vehicle in thefreight compartment. The divider in that case can preferably be shiftedto different positions, and can be locked especially in a space-savingrest position and in a space dividing active position. The term, freightcompartment, also includes a trunk compartment for sedans or fastbackpassenger cars.

In an embodiment of the sectioning device, the divider has a frame ofstable shape which is mounted for swiveling on the wall of the freightcompartment between a rest position lying against the wall and an activeposition dividing the freight compartment into at least two spacesections. The sectioning device is preferably provided for the trunkcompartment of a sedan, the frame in that case being advantageouslyarranged on a roof of the trunk compartment and swung down to its activeposition. In its active position the frame extends over the entireheight of the trunk compartment between the trunk compartment floor andthe roof of the trunk compartment, so that a division of the trunkcompartment is created by the frame. The frame is preferably mounted soas to be able to turn on an axis running transversely in the vehicle.However, it can also be arranged to turn about an axis in line with thelength of the vehicle, so that in its active position it divides asection of space underneath the roof of the trunk compartment into twosections parallel and side-by-side lengthwise of the vehicle.

In a further embodiment of the invention, locking means are provided onthe frame which fix the frame in its active position on correspondingholding means affixed to the freight compartment. These locking meansare preferably catches easily operated by hand, which either snap intotheir locking position on the holding means—preferablyspring-loaded—affixed to the freight compartment, or are shiftedmanually into the locking position. The locking means are releasedlikewise by hand.

In a further embodiment of the invention, means for securing the framein its rest position lying against the wall are associated with theframe. These securing means can be in the form of simple turning hooks,pawls or locks, all releasable manually. It is also possible tointegrate such securing and locking means for fixing the frame in itsactive position and in its rest position directly into a hinge systemfor swiveling the frame on the wall of the freight compartment. Amanually releasable pawl unit is especially suitable which is associatedwith a ratchet wheel which can rotate about the pivot axis together withthe frame.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the frame is provided on atleast one side with a holding bar on which additional functional devicescan be releasably fastened. Such additional functional devices can beprovided in various forms. For example, a box holding a concealingtarpaulin or security roller shade can be affixed to the holding bar. Itis also possible to fasten additional sectioning units releasably to theholding bar, which only divide the freight compartment floor withoutreaching up to the full height of the freight compartment. Thefunctional devices can also be receivers or containers for differentkinds of materials to be carried in the vehicle.

In a further embodiment of the invention, at least one sectioning unitthat can be aligned transversely of the active position of the frame isprovided as a functional unit.

In a further embodiment, the sectioning unit is a barrier loop which isdisposed on a supporting post which can be moved along its mountingprofile. At the same time only one single barrier loop may be providedon the mounting profile of the frame. However, two or more barrier loopscan be provided. Due to the ability of the at least one barrier loop tobe shifted linearly it is possible to make the sections of the freightcompartment variable according to the goods that are to be transported.

In a further embodiment of the invention, means are associated with theat least one barrier loop to lock the barrier loop in any desiredintermediate position. This assures that the barrier loop is locked inthe position established on the mounting profile and thus on the frame.The barrier loop extends preferably over only a portion of the height ofthe frame and thus only over a part of the height of the trunk orfreight compartment.

In a further development of the invention a clamping bar extending atleast approximately over the entire length of the mounting profile isprovided, which is associated with the supporting post and is recessedat least partially in the holding bar and can pivot around itslongitudinal axis, the clamping bar being configured off-center at leastin sections from its longitudinal axis such that the supporting post canbe locked or released when the holding bar is turned relative to theholding bar. This embodiment is advantageous especially when more thanone barrier loop is provided, since all of the barrier loops togethercan be locked or released for longitudinal displacement by turning theholding bar. The holding bar is provided preferably at a central pointwith a gripping element by which the holding bar can be turned manuallyand thus operated to release or lock the supporting posts. It is thuspossible by a single hand operation to release or lock the holding barand thus the at least one barrier loop.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the at least one barrier loopis mounted on its associated mounting post for turning between a foldedrest position to a deployed active position. This assures that the atleast one barrier loop is compactly arranged in its rest position on theframe. The at least one barrier loop can thus be turned together withthe frame to its rest position.

Additional advantages and features of the invention are to be found inthe following description of embodiments of the invention, some of whichare represented in the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a partially cut-away trunk compartmentserving as an embodiment of a freight compartment according to theinvention for a passenger car in which an embodiment of the sectioningdevice of the invention is arranged,

FIG. 2 shows a trunk compartment similar to FIG. 1, with an additionalembodiment of a sectioning device of the invention,

FIG. 3 shows a trunk compartment similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 with anotherembodiment of a sectioning device of the invention which has severalfunctions,

FIG. 4 shows a trunk compartment similar to FIG. 3 which a sectioningdevice similar to FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 shows a trunk compartment similar to FIG. 4 with anotherembodiment of a sectioning device of the invention similar to FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 shows the trunk compartment of FIG. 5 with the sectioning deviceof FIG. 5, from which a concealing curtain configured like a rollershade for a trunk compartment floor is removed,

FIG. 7 shows the trunk compartment of FIG. 6, wherein the concealingcurtain is in its deployed position covering the trunk compartmentfloor,

FIG. 8 shows an additional trunk compartment of a passenger car with anembodiment of the sectioning device of the invention similar to FIG. 1,

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of a trunk compartment of the inventionin which the sectioning device is in a sunken rest position,

FIG. 10 shows the trunk compartment of FIG. 9 wherein a flexible dividerof the sectioning device is moved to an active position,

FIG. 11 shows the trunk compartment of FIGS. 9 and 10, in which aconcealing curtain is drawn to a fully deployed position,

FIG. 12 shows the trunk compartment of FIGS. 9 to 11, in which anadditional flexible curtain is in an intermediate position just beforeits active position,

FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of a trunk compartment of theinvention, which is provided with an embodiment of a sectioning deviceof the invention,

FIG. 14 shows the trunk compartment of FIG. 13, wherein the sectioningdevice is shown in its active position,

FIG. 15 shows another embodiment of a trunk compartment of theinvention, which is provided with another embodiment of the sectioningdevice of the invention,

FIG. 16 shows the trunk compartment of FIG. 15 wherein the sectioningdevice of FIG. 16 is shown in its deployed position,

FIG. 17 shows an enlarged view of a cross section through a holding barof a frame of the sectioning device of FIGS. 15 and 16,

FIG. 18 shows a longitudinal section through the holding bar of FIG. 17taken along line XVIII—XVIII in FIG. 17, enlarged,

FIG. 19 shows another embodiment of a trunk compartment of theinvention, with another embodiment of a sectioning device of theinvention,

FIG. 20 shows the trunk compartment of FIG. 19 wherein the sectioningdevice is turned to the deployed position, and

FIG. 21 shows an enlarged view of a cross section through a holding barof a frame of the sectioning device of FIGS. 19 and 20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A freight compartment in the form of a trunk compartment 1 for apassenger car of the sedan type is defined at the top in a known mannerby a hinged trunk compartment lid 2. To divide the trunk compartment 1into two sections adjoining one another lengthwise of the vehicle, abox-like housing 4 is provided in the right side wall of the trunkcompartment, as seen in the normal traveling direction; this housing isa part of a sectioning device and is provided with a retractable curtain5. The curtain 5 is flexible in the embodiment represented and can bewound up on a vertically disposed roller shaft. The curtain 5 isautomatically withdrawn into the rest position retracted into thehousing 4 by a return spring if it is not affixed to the vehicle. Toaffix it to the vehicle two holding means in the form of hooks 7 areprovided on the opposite side wall of the trunk compartment, into whicha frame member 6 at the leading end of the curtain can be hung.

The housing 4 of the sectioning device positioned on the side wall canbe closed by a sliding door 3 which is provided with a hand-hold 8 forthe purpose of pushing the sliding door 3 in the lengthwise direction ofthe car. The sliding door 3 has corresponding guiding means attached tothe vehicle and in the embodiment represented it is arcuately recurvedat its upper end. The housing 4 can thus be completely concealed by thesliding door, including the curtain 5 and the frame member 6, which arewithdrawn into the rest position, and can be uncovered by shifting thesliding door 3.

The sectioning device in the side wall of the trunk compartment 1 canhave a different kind of barrier. For example, accordion-fold devices,or stable separating grilles which can slide together or apart, can beprovided. Such sectioning devices can also be disposed in various waysin the trunk compartment 1. It is also possible to move such sectioningdevices lengthwise of the vehicle between their active and restpositions. The barriers are affixed to the vehicle both in their activeposition and in their rest position. The barriers including thesectioning devices can also be disposed releasably within the trunkcompartment, and can thus be designed for removal from the vehicle.

In the embodiment in FIG. 2 a sectioning device is likewise arranged ina side wall section 4 a of the trunk compartment 1 and can be concealedin its rest position by a sliding door 3. The sectioning device has abox housing 9 which is mounted so as to swing between a rest positionconcealed in the side wall 4 a and an active position lying on the trunkcompartment floor. The axis of its rotation is preferably near a bottomside section of the box housing 9. The box housing 9 is, in a manner notrepresented, also locked in its active position according to FIG. 2 onthe floor of the trunk compartment 1. The box housing 9 has a divider inthe form of a roll-up mesh curtain 5 a which is wound up inside of thebox housing 9 in a manner basically known. A pull-out rod 6 a of theroll-up mesh curtain 5 a can be releasably affixed in holding eyes 10affixed to the floor of the trunk compartment 1. Such holding means inthe form of eyes 10 or differently configured holding means can also beprovided on other wall sections of the trunk compartment 1, so that thebarrier can be stretched out in other positions as well. Of course, thebox housing 9 can also be locked in its concealed position retracted inthe side wall 4 a. Such locking can also be accomplished by closing itby means of the sliding door 3. Additional barriers or functional unitscan be contained in a manner similar to the embodiments described below.

It is also possible to make the sectioning device a telescoping device,so that the sectioning device could be extended like the box housing 9of FIG. 2, even over the entire width of the trunk compartment floor.

It is also possible to provide at least one additional sectioningdevice, especially in the opposite side wall of the trunk compartment 1like the embodiment in FIG. 2, so that by means of the two box housingsthe entire width of the trunk compartment floor can be covered at leastmostly by the sectioning devices.

A sectioning device according to FIG. 3 for a trunk compartment of apassenger automobile has a box housing 11 which can be made from analuminum extrusion or from a stable plastic of high impact strength. Thebox housing 11 can be fastened to the trunk compartment floor. For thispurpose appropriate moldings can be provided in the floor, into whichthe matching moldings on the box housing 11 can be inserted. It is alsopossible, however, to fasten the box housing 11 to the floor of thetrunk compartment by other fastening means. The box housing 11 has aplurality of function units. Thus, in an upper part, two curtains 16 canbe provided side by side across the width of the vehicle, beingconfigured as mesh-like roller shades in the embodiment represented. Theroller barriers are disposed on two rollers coaxial with one another butjournaled independently and provided each with its own retractingspring. Front end pull-out bars of the rollers 16 can be fastenedreleasably on hooks 12 affixed to the vehicle.

The entire box housing 11 can, if necessary, be released from the trunkcompartment floor and be stored away in an appropriate place in thetrunk compartment, in the vehicle, or outside of the vehicle.

The box housing 11 has two additional retractable barriers 15, which inthis embodiment again are roller shade-like meshes. For these rollershades 15 a pull-out slot running on one side is provided in the boxhousing 11, so that the barriers 15 can be drawn out approximatelyhorizontally from the box housing 11. Instead of two barriers 15 only asingle barrier can also be provided, which extends over the entire widthof the trunk compartment floor and thus over nearly the entire length ofthe box housing 11.

The barriers 15 can be affixed to the vehicle by their front pull-outrods in eyes 13 on the trunk compartment floor.

In the embodiment represented the box housing 11 is positioned atapproximately the middle of the length of the trunk compartment floor.It is also possible, however, to anchor the box housing 11 elsewhere onthe trunk compartment floor, to achieve different divisions of the trunkcompartment space. Also, the eyes 13 serving as holding means do notnecessarily have to be arranged on a back end of the trunk compartmentfloor. Depending on the position of the box housing 11 and the part ofthe space to be covered by the barrier 15, they can be positionedaccordingly. It is also possible to provide the holding means in theform of eyes 13 or other kinds of fastening elements on side walls ofthe trunk compartment.

Underneath the barriers 15, which are journaled in the box housing 11like barriers 16, an additional space extending over the entire lengthof the box housing 11 is provided in which a roll-up tarpaulin 14 can becontained. The tarpaulin 14 is disposed removably in the recess and ifnecessary it is removed from the box housing 11. The tarpaulin 14 servesto protect the trunk compartment floor against dirt, and it isadvantageously waterproof. The tarpaulin 14 has a holding bar at eachend by which the tarpaulin 14 can be stretched out on the trunkcompartment floor. Depending on the arrangement of various holding meanson the trunk compartment floor, the tarpaulin 14, whose total length isapproximately equal to the total length of the trunk compartment floor,can be rolled out just partially or completely and accordingly attachedto the trunk compartment floor so as to cover it partially orcompletely.

Preferably, a mounting rod of the tarpaulin 14 has journaling means atits ends by which the rod can rotate in corresponding bearing meanswithin the opening in the box housing 11 but is releasably held inposition. As an alternative to complete removal of the tarpaulin 14 itcan thus also be removed from the box housing 11 by its oppositemounting rod.

The embodiment in FIGS. 4 to 7 is similar to the embodiment in FIG. 3.The sectioning device has a box housing 17 which is provided with abarrier 18 extending over the entire length of the box housing 17. Thebarrier 18 thus extends over nearly the entire width of the trunkcompartment. The barrier 18, which is of a mesh-like nature, is fixedlyanchored in a manner not further indicated by its upper end to the roofarea of the trunk compartment. This fixed anchoring, however, can bemade releasably so that the entire box housing 17 can be removed. Thebarrier 18 is wound on a roller shaft in the box housing 17 which isbiased by a return spring. The return spring is provided with suchstrength that the barrier 18 can be rolled into the rest positionagainst the weight of the box housing 17 including any additionalfunction units such as additional barriers 19, a tarpaulin 20, etc.Since the barrier 18 is fixedly anchored to the roof of the trunkcompartment, the box housing 17 is thus held in its rest position on theroof 22 seen in FIGS. 5 to 7, by the strength of the return spring or ofthe roller shaft of the tarpaulin 18. To shift the box housing 17 to itsactive position seen in FIG. 4, it can be pressed downward by hand andlocked onto holding means within the trunk compartment floor area. Theholding means can be similar to the embodiments previously described.

Alternatively it is possible to associate with the return spring for thebarrier 18 a locking system which can be activated or deactivated. Ifsuch a locking system is provided, the force of the return spring can bedesigned to be weaker. The positioning of the box housing 17 in its restposition on the roof 22 is then performed by activating the lockingsystem accordingly.

The barriers 19 which can be drawn out approximately horizontally andwhich are likewise mounted within the box housing 17 correspond to thebarriers 15 described in connection with FIG. 3, so there is no need todiscuss them further. The tarpaulin 20 is configured similar totarpaulin 14 in FIG. 3 and likewise serves to keep water and dirt offthe trunk compartment floor. The tarpaulin 20 in the embodiment in FIGS.4 to 7 is mounted like the tarpaulin 14 for rotation in the recess 21 ofthe box housing 17 so that it can be extracted by means of the frontholding rod. Alternatively, the entire tarpaulin 20, as represented inFIGS. 6 and 7, can be removed from the box housing 17 and stretched overthe trunk compartment floor. Holding means 13 affixed to the vehicle areprovided for this purpose in the front and rear area of the trunkcompartment floor.

A box housing similar to box housing 17 can also be fastened releasablydirectly to the upper roof 22 without fixation by means of the barrier18. The arrangement of the box housing 17 on the roof 22 can beconfigured like the fixation of the previously described box housing onthe trunk compartment floor. The box housings can also be provided withsockets or fastening means for the arrangement and fixation ofadditional function elements. Simple receptacles for shopping bags orbaskets or for other objects not pertaining to the vehicle can also beprovided. For this purpose such a box housing can be provided especiallywith matching external shapes into which mating inserts, provided withholders or fastening units or objects, can be fitted and positively heldtherein. This embodiment can be made to special advantage if the boxhousing is made from an extruded profile.

The embodiment in FIG. 8 is substantially similar to the embodimentpreviously described in connection with FIG. 1. Also the sectioningdevice of FIG. 8 has a barrier 27 configured as a flexible curtain whichcan be drawn like the device in FIG. 1 across the width of the vehicleout of a side wall 24 that is a boundary surface of the trunkcompartment. The barrier 27 can be wound onto a roller shaft mounted ina vertical alignment in a cavity 29 in the side wall 24. The cavity 29in the side wall 24 can be shut with a cover in the form of a flap 30which can turn on a hinge 31 on the side wall 24. In the deployed statethe barrier 27 reaches across the trunk compartment and divides the sameinto a front portion defined by the front wall 26 and by the barrier 27at the rear, and a corresponding rear portion. The barrier 27 stands ona trunk compartment floor 23 in its deployed position and is stretchedout in this deployed position in which it is held by a pull-out bar 28in holders 32. To achieve tautness, either a stop means is associatedwith the roller shaft or the barrier 27 is of a length determined by thewidth of the trunk compartment such that, in the suspended state it isdrawn all the way out to the end. The flap 30 can be kept closed by asimple catch 33 and 34. Of course, other forms of catch means may beprovided in order to hold the flap 30 in its closed position in which itconceals the barrier 27 in its withdrawn rest position. These includespring systems which exert a return tension on the flap and hold it inthe closed position.

In the embodiment in FIGS. 9 to 12, still another dividing system forthe sectioning device is provided in addition to the barrier in FIG. 8,which is contained in a side wall of the trunk compartment, and it isrecessed in the trunk compartment floor 23. These parts of thesectioning device are fundamentally the same in structure and functionas an embodiment that was previously described in connection with FIGS.3 to 7. In the present embodiment according to FIGS. 9 to 12, thecorresponding barriers 38, 40 and 42 are not contained in a separate boxhousing that can be removed from the vehicle, but instead are helddirectly in corresponding recesses in the trunk compartment floor 23.For this purpose storage compartments are provided in the recesses forthe barriers in their rolled-up rest state. The sectioning deviceintegrated into the trunk compartment floor 23 has the recesses in theform of cavities which are closed each by a cover 35 to 37 in the formof flaps. The flaps 36 and 37 are arranged side by side and each covershalf of the width of the covering flap 35 which is directly behind andparallel with the flaps 36 and 37. When the corresponding flaps 35, 36and 37 are opened, the barrier in question 38, 40 and 42, can be drawnout by hand to its deployed state and attached to holding means 39, 41and 43 affixed to the vehicle. The rear end of each barrier, stilllowered in its particular recess, is likewise held in the recess eitherby being affixed to a roller shaft or else directly in holders affixedto the vehicle inside of the recess. The holders are hanging hooks forpull-out bars on the barriers 38, 40 and 42; these hooks 39, 41 and 43can be turned to an inactive position or to their active position toreceive the pull-out bar in question. The suspension hooks 39 are heldon a roof, i.e., the upper side of the trunk compartment, serving as aboundary surface. The hooks 41 and 42 are mounted on a back of the trunkcompartment floor 23. The covering flaps 35 to 37 can be provided, in amanner not shown, with handles for ease in opening and closing. They canbe held in their closed position by appropriate spring systems or in anyother manner. Instead of spring systems, locks, catches or othertensional or interlocking means can be provided.

A trunk compartment serving as a freight compartment in a passenger caraccording to FIGS. 13 and 14 is provided with a trunk compartment floor44 and with a roof 45 which in the forward direction of the vehicle'slength adjoins a cut-out for a trunk compartment lid 46. The roof 45 isunderneath the back shelf of the vehicle's interior. On the roof 45 asectioning device 47 is provided, which is formed by a quadrangular andclosed frame 49 of stable shape as well as a barrier, here in the formof a net 50, stretched in the frame 49. This sectioning device is abarrier 47 which in an active position (FIG. 14) separates a frontsection of the trunk compartment from a rear section. The frame 49 ismounted so as to swing on a hinge system 48 on the roof 45 about ahorizontal axis running across the vehicle. The frame 49 including thenet 50 can be locked either in its rest position (FIG. 13) or in itsdeployed position (FIG. 14) by means of the associated two slidingcatches 51 and associated holders 52 affixed to the vehicle. For thatpurpose a sliding bolt 51 which can be extended linearly outward isintegrated in the lower (in FIG. 14) longitudinal member of the frame49, and is linearly displaceable from a rest position in which frame 49is released to a locking position holding the frame 49 on the holder 52.Holders 52 affixed to the trunk compartment are in like manner providedon the roof 45 of the trunk compartment, and the sliding bolts 51 enterinto them with the frame 49 and barrier 47 when in the rest position.The sliding bolts 51 thus form both locking means for the activeposition and securing means for the barrier 47 in the rest position. Itis, however, also possible to provide separate securing means for therest position which will hold the barrier 47 on the roof.

An additional embodiment of a trunk compartment according to theinvention, with an additional embodiment of a sectioning device of theinvention, has in FIGS. 15 to 18 a barrier 53 which like the embodimentin FIGS. 13 and 14 is provided with a frame of stable shape. The frameis provided with a barrier in the form of a net stretched within theframe and mounted so as to rotate about a hinge 48 on the roof 45 of thetrunk compartment, like the embodiment in FIGS. 13 and 14.

Instead of a flexible net, a different flexible or stiff barrier can beprovided.

A lower long member of the frame of the barrier 53 is in the form of achannel 54 to which two additional barrier units in the form of barrierloops 55 are connected. The two barrier loops 55 are held each by asupport 56 for longitudinal displacement on the channel 54. For thatpurpose the channel 54 has a profile groove 57 extending over the entirelength of the channel 54, and into it two sliding blocks 60 of thesupport 56. The support 56 is releasably held in the profile groove 57.The sliding blocks 60 are mounted so as to be able to be rotated 90°with the aid of a handle on the support 56 (FIG. 17). On the other handthe sliding blocks 60 engaged in the profile groove 57 are ofrectangular shape, a narrow side fitting in the width of the insertionslot in the profile groove 57 and a wide side of the sliding block 60fitting in the width of the profile groove 57 itself. Thus, by arotation of 90° it is possible to insert the sliding blocks 60 throughthe insertion slot into the profile groove 57 and then, by anotherrotation of 90°, they can be held positively in the profile groove 57.The sliding blocks 60 thus form means by which each barrier loop 55 canbe displaceable along the channel 54. The sliding blocks 60 can be madeadvantageously from a slippery plastic. The barrier loops 55 in theiractive position shown in FIG. 16 reach rearwardly from the channel 54,so that they divide the freight compartment floor into a total of threesections. The barrier loops 55 are steplessly displaceable along theprofile groove 57 of channel 54. To lock the barrier loops in a desiredposition a clamping profile 58 is provided, which is integrated into amatching profile 62 of the channel 54. The clamping profile 58 is ableto rotate on its longitudinal axis by a certain amount within the groove62, but the clamping profile 58 does not have a circular cross sectionbut, at least in sections, an unround and thus excentric cross section.

The clamping profile 58 reaches outwardly by a certain amount beyond thegroove 62 and is embedded in a mating indentation 61 in the support 56.The clamping profile 58 extends slightly beyond the length of theprofile groove 57. To be able to rotate the clamping profile 58 by hand,the clamping profile 58 is provided at the approximate level of themiddle of the vehicle with a central handle 59 extending radiallyrearward. By rotating the clamping profile 58 a clamping or release ofthe support 56 is achieved due to the unround, eccentric shape, sincethe clamping profile 58 extends, depending on its position, slightlymore or less beyond the back contour of the channel 54, and thus gripsor releases the support 56 at the level of the indentation 61.

In addition to the linear displaceability of the two barrier loops 55,the latter can be rotated into a rest position (FIG. 15) in contact withthe channel 54. For that purpose each barrier loop 55 is mounted in thesupport 56 for rotation about a vertical axis. The barrier loop 55 issecured both in its active position (FIGS. 16 and 18) and in its restposition (FIG. 15) by a catch system. Each barrier loop 55 is providedin the area of its support 56 with an eccentric supporting member 66(FIG. 18) which is secured by means of a supporting block 63,65, whichcan be moved by means of a leaf spring 64 within the support 56. Theleaf spring 64 is held in a slot in the linearly displaceable supportingblock 63, 65, and thrusts outside of the supporting block 63, 65,against corresponding surfaces of the support 56.

Also in the folded rest position (FIG. 15) the supporting member 66 ofthe barrier loop 55 is provided with planar contact surfaces, notfurther designated, which in the rest position of the barrier loop 55thrust broadly against the supporting surface 65 of the supporting block63, 65. The planar thrusting surfaces of the supporting member 66, asshown in FIG. 18, are opposite one another offset by 90° from thesupporting surface 65 and thus on the upper side and on the lower sideof the supporting member 66. On account of the supporting surfacesdescribed, each barrier loop 55 is held stable both in its activeposition and in its folded rest position.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 19 to 21, a barrier 67 is providedwhich has a frame as well as a screen stretched in the frame. The frameis suspended in hinges 48 on a roof 45 of the trunk compartment. Likethe embodiment according to FIGS. 15 to 18, a lower member of the frameis formed by a channel 68 which extends over the entire width of thetrunk compartment and thus over the entire width of the frame. Thechannel 68 is provided with a receiving groove 69 of polygonal shapewhich is made substantially higher in comparison with a narrowerinsertion slot. The receiving groove 69 serves for the releasablemounting of additional function devices 71 which may be of variouskinds. The function device 71 in FIG. 21 is a merely indicated boxhousing in which a tarpaulin is rolled up for the freight compartmentfloor 44. In like manner, however, differently configured functionsystems provided with different functions can be locked in the receivinggroove 69.

All function device 71 have it in common that they can be lockedreleasably in the groove 69 by means of at least one mounting foot 70.In the embodiment shown, such a mounting foot 70 has at least onespring-biased holding pin which can be pushed into a housing of themounting foot by certain amount, against the force of a return spring.In order to lock the function device 71 in the receiving groove 69 bymeans of the at least one mounting foot 70, the latter is introduced atan angle as shown in FIG. 21 into the receiving groove 69 and forceddownward until an upper edge of the mounting foot 70 can pass the uppermargin of the insertion slot of the receiving groove 69. Then thefunction device 71 including the mounting foot 70, is turned upwardly inthe direction of the arrow, so that the mounting foot catches behind theupper edge of the insertion slot and is held securely in the receivinggroove 69. An upper section of the receiving groove 69 is provided witha bevel not shown, which produces a clamping of the upper section of themounting foot 70, since the supporting pin, due to spring bias, forcesthe housing of the mounting foot 70 upward. To release the mounting foot70 and thus the function device 71, the entire unit is forced downwardlycausing the supporting pin to enter the housing. Then the mounting foot70 can be turned forward and downward and then removed.

Not all of the features described with the aid of the differentembodiments are limited to the described combinations of features, butcan be combined together according to the established requirements inother assemblages. Instead of the individual sectioning devicesrepresented, a plurality of sectioning devices can be provided in thetrunk compartment. All of the sectioning devices described can beprovided in like manner also in freight compartments of combinationpassenger cars or other motor vehicles.

What is claimed is:
 1. Sectioning device for a trunk space of a motorvehicle, which has at least one flexible barrier or one of stable shapeat least sectionally which can be aligned in the trunk space and fixedto the vehicle, wherein the barrier has one frame of stable shape whichis journaled on a wall of the trunk space so as to be turnable between arest position in contact with the wall and an active position dividingthe trunk space into at least two spaces, the frame extending in theactive position between a floor and a roof of the trunk space. 2.Sectioning device according to claim 1, wherein a stopper is provided onthe frame which holds the frame in the active position on acorresponding holder fixed to the trunk space.
 3. Sectioning deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein a securing element for holding the framein the rest position in contact with the wall are associated with theframe.
 4. Sectioning device according to claim 1, wherein the frame isprovided on at least one side with a holding profile on which additionalfunction devices can be releasably fastened.
 5. Sectioning deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein at least one sectioning unit is providedas a function device which can be aligned to the active position of theframe.
 6. Sectioning device according to claim 5, wherein the sectioningunit has a sectioning loop which by way of a support is disposed forlongitudinal displacement on the holding profile.
 7. Sectioning deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein a lock is associated with the sectioningloop to lock the sectioning loop in any desired intermediate position.8. Sectioning device according to claim 7, wherein a clamping profileextending over at least approximately the entire length of the holdingprofile is provided, which is spatially associated with the support andis sunken at least partially in the holding profile and can turn about alongitudinal axis, the clamping profile being made off-center from thelongitudinal axis at least in sections such that the support can belocked or released when the clamping profile is turned relative to theholding profile.
 9. Sectioning device according to claim 6, wherein thesectioning loop is mounted for turning on the associated support betweena folded rest position and a deployed active position.
 10. Sectioningdevice according to claim 9, wherein the sectioning-loop can be securedby way of a catch system in the deployed position and/or in the foldedrest position.
 11. Sectioning device according to claim 2, wherein theframe is provided on at least one side with a holding profile on whichadditional function devices can be releasably fastened.
 12. Sectioningdevice according to claim 3, wherein the frame is provided on at leastone side with a holding profile on which additional function devices canbe releasably fastened.
 13. Sectioning device according to claim 7,wherein the sectioning loop is mounted for turning on the associatedsupport between a folded rest position and a deployed active position.14. Sectioning device according to claim 1, wherein the frame isjournaled to one of the floor and roof of the trunk space.